Ways to Help a Shut In Person

Introduction:

Many people are shut-ins who cannot go outside their home each day like others. They are not just old people and are often forgotten who get easily depressed watching the world go by. The winter is hard enough to sit inside all day and night, but summertime is especially hard to watch people going to events, walking down the sidewalk, laughing and having a good time, while you watch from the inside of what seems to be your little prison cell. Please remember the precious shut-in people that you know, and do something kind and special to make their lives easier.

Think About It

Before you can relate or empathize with others, you need to think about their situation and put yourself in their shoes. Like the old saying goes, "walk a mile in my shoes."

Find Out What They Like

Don't bring flowers to someone that is allergic to them, or give candy to a diabetic. Find out what they like and can have. Some special treats may be a malt or shake from the ice cream shop that is so missed. Maybe a video of a gathering that he or she could not attend. Simply visiting once a week is a big plus. My mother wanted that more than anything else during her last days on earth. Find out the things that mean a lot and try to meet that desire. This means a lot to a shut-in.

Encourage

Say encouraging things to the shut-in. Talk about happy subjects like flowers, art, recipes, funny things the kids did or anything that does not bring that person down. Telling them all about the problems in your life or family is not uplifting and adds to their own mental weight.

Take Him or Her Somewhere

Sometimes, a shut-in likes to go see places they have not seen in a long time. If possible, take the shut-in to see familiar spots that they would enjoy. I drove my mother to a park and around the lake, which she deeply enjoyed as she had not seen them for years. We also stopped and got some fries and a shake at our favorite place, which was a big blessing to her.

Love Them

Say it often "I love you." A shut-in often feels forgotten and un-needed. Reminding that person of your love by verbalizing it. Show it by getting them stamps, food from the store, prescriptions and pet food. There are many ways that you bless a shut-in and be blessed by doing for them.

What a lovely list. We care for my 89 year old mother in law who has dementia. I would add, that if the person has dementia, a) do NOT avoid visiting, because it's not like they're crazy, they just have memory problems. Therefore, b) tell them who you are when you walk in, even if you "know" they know ... it makes them feel better to have been given your name.